A Fatal Desire [Completed]

24

Chapter Twenty-four

VIGÉNERE

"V-V, anong ginagawa mo dito?" Utal-utal na tanong niya sa 'kin.

Hindi ako umimik at ibinigay lang sa kaniya 'yong butas na vase. Nagkamali ako ng precision kanina habang tinitira ang bagay na 'yan. I thought the wooden bullet will bounce but it pierced through the vase.

Nainis ako doon sa lalaking nagbabantay. Parang kailangan ko ng linisin 'yong mga katulad nila sa mundong 'to. He is earning in a deceitful way.

Actually, I don't have any intention of showing up and letting him know that I am here but that goddamn shooting booth infuriates me. No one won in that stupid game since the first day that I step in this place.

Then, it happened that I saw several kids trying to get those prizes but they always end up going home with disappointed faces.

That man pinned those stuffs in the wooden base so it won't knock off easily when you shoot it.

"Hindi ko akalain na makikita kita dito" Wika niyang muli.

As well as I am. Mukhang nagkamali ako ng desisyon na lumabas pa ako ng hotel.

"Who's kid is that?" Tanong ko at tinuro 'yong bata na mukhang iyakin. Pulang-pula ang ilong nito at may kaunting luha pa ang mga mata. "I never thought that you already had a child"

And he dared to flirt with me?

I shake off that ridiculous thought of mine. Tss.

Mabilis siyang umiling. Binuhat niya 'yong batang mukhang takot na takot sa akin.

"H-Hindi ko 'to anak. She is an orphan and her name is Alliah. Nilibang ko muna saglit para tumigil sa kakaiyak. She's looking for her late mother"

Hindi kaagad ako nakaimik sa sinabi niya. There's nothing new, some children lost their parents either natural causes or accidents. They are lucky if they found someone who will take good care of them. Napatingin ako sa teddy bear na kanina pa niya gusto.

"You drove here all the way from Manila?" Kunot-noong tanong ko.

"Hindi" Natawa ito. "I mean, nilibre ko 'yong mga bata ng outing dito sa Subic. Kahapon kami dito dumating"

Kaya pala. Napatango naman ako. Hindi na nakakagulat kong kaya niyang gawin 'yon sa lahat ng mga bata na nasa orphanage. He had money.

"Hey, kiddo" Tawag ko sa bata. I don't like kids but I don't hate them. Tumingin ito sa akin. "Alliah, right?"

Tumango ito. "Here" Tipid kong saad saka inabot sa kaniya 'yong teddy bear na tinanggap niya kaagad.

"T-Thank you po, A-Ate" Nahihiyang sabi nito. I just tap her head.

Napansin ko sa aking peripheral vision na kanina pa sa akin nakatitig si Ephraim kaya't binalingan ko ito ng tingin at tinaasan ng kilay. Kaagad itong umiwas ng tingin saka tumikhim.

"Hindi mo pa sinasagot ang tanong ko kanina, V"

He is still not get over it. Sigh. "Monseigneur gave me a sudden mission here in Zambales. I already finished it yesterday"